Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 9
Dated: 11 Nov 1804 from CB at Sellinge Lees Addressed
to: Miss Dacres (no address given)
I had confidently hoped that the post of this day would have enabled me
to acquaint my ever dearest Mary, with the final arrangement of my
negotiations with Groves, but have been disappointed; and can only say
that if these papers must again be sent, and which I fear is most likely
to be the case, three weeks must elapse before it will be in my power to
set out for Wearde I shall however in this interval make every
preparation for my departure as I am obliged to go to London to lodge
the purchase money in the hands of the Regimental agent This will also
allow me to pay a farewell visit at Bedington, so that when the Gazette
sets me at liberty, there will be no delay on this or indeed on any
other account.
And now, my beloved Mary, allow me to express to you the hopes that I
cherish of very, very soon calling you mine, if they are too
presumptuous or if it appears to you that our income will be
insufficient to live upon with that degree of comfort, I hope always to
see you enjoy pray put an end to my delightful prospects before we
meet. But to candidly acquaint you with my ideas, I think that you will
rather encourage me in this charming expectation. I need not say that
should you be determined to make me so perfectly happy that many
little arrangements will be requisite previous to our going to Ireland
dear Mary, you must write me a very full and particular detail of all
that relates to this there is I believe also some proceedings but I do
not exactly know what with a Clergyman I trust, my dearest love you
will not impute this part of my letter to any cause but to the one which
induces me to allude to this circumstance, and which is as follows I
fear that after I shall have been gazetted in the 28th, that the leave
of absence I shall be able to obtain will not at farthest exceed one
month. If it is possible therefore to manage that no delay shall take
place in the performance of that ceremony which I trust will contribute
as much to your future happiness as I am most perfectly assured it will
to mine, after my arrival at Wearde, do you not think my love it will in
all respects be well? If after consulting your dear and excellent Mother
on this subject, by whose opinion I wish to be guided and in whose
goodness I have the most unlimited confidence, it appears to you and to
her as it does to me, among other orders do not forget to enclose the
size of your finger by means of a piece of silk or something of that
nature, that I may be the happy bearer of the ring which is to make you
my prisoner for ever! Dear, dear Mary, I hardly believe you can imagine
how altered a being this approach to happiness has made me I had no
other idea but of enjoying a short, very short pleasure in your society
and to return to exile for God knows what a period of time! This
enchanting transition of our prospect, from gloomy despair to hopes
which fill my heart with transport, is almost as unexpected as it is
grateful and when that heart teaches me that through the kindness of
your mother, I dare aspire to the accomplishment of our marriage! I am
quite at a loss how to assure her of my gratitude she is more to me
than a Mother she is also the Mother of my Mary. I hardly know whether
in this letter I have made myself intelligible. But my heart is
overflowing with ten thousand feelings, and I cannot with calmness write
on such a subject. You will know the nature of these feelings and will
pardon the incoherence of my style If I hear from Groves I will write
to you tomorrow. I am indeed most happy to hear so favourable an account
of your dear invalids Pray give my love to all your circle.
Farewell dear, dear Mary,
For ever and for ever yours
Charles Bevan
Sellinge Lees
11 November
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Groves Major Groves 28th Ft from whom CB was buying his Majority
ii) Wearde the Dacres residence near Plymouth
iii) Bedington CBs mothers house in Surrey
iv) Sellinge Lees a village in Kent North of Hythe evidently Pagets
command house
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